Aston Villa have been one of the most active Premier League sides in the transfer market ahead of the 2019-20 season, signing 9 players and spending over £100 million after gaining promotion to the Premier League.
The Villans are still interested in signing more players, and have been linked with a young player, 19-year-old Irish striker Jonathan Afolabi.
Afolabi is currently without a club, having seen out his contract with Premier League side Southampton due to a lack of playing time.
According to Football.London, several teams are keen on signing the teenage striker apart from Villa, with the likes of Crystal Palace, as well as teams from Spain and Russia interested in signing the Ireland Under-19 striker.
Afolabi – Profile
Afolabi joined Southampton in 2016 and signed his first professional contract in 2018, and impressed in the Under-18 and Under-21 side before showing his class for Southampton in English Premier League 2 Division 2.
In the 2018-19 season, Afolabi scored 4 goals and 2 assists in 16 games in Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy. He played a key role in Ireland’s Under-19 team that progressed to the semi-final of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, where they eventually lost to Portugal, a match that Afolabi was not a part of due to suspension.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Aston Villa signing Jonathan Afolabi:
Pros
The players Villa have signed so far are those that have impressed in top-level football and are ready to step up to the Premier League. But Villa also need young, promising players who can possibly challenge for a place in the starting XI a few years from now.
Afolabi is currently a free agent which means that Villa do not have to pay a transfer fee to secure his signature, which makes great financial sense for the newly-promoted Premier League side.
The Irish youngster is a tall and pacey forward who can stretch defences with his acceleration and energy, and pose a goal threat.
Afolabi is also physically strong, brushing off challenges with ease and also pressing opposition defenders at every opportunity.
Cons
If Villa sign him, it would be a bit of a gamble to put him with the senior team as he has never played senior football before. The highest level of football Afolabi has played is Under-23 football.
Southampton are also very particular about their younger talents, and considering Afolabi didn’t make the grade under Ralph Hasenhuttl, he might not be cut out for the top-flight.
